This study presents evidence that cellular responsiveness to the neurotrophic factor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can be achieved by at least two classes of agents using different initial second messenger pathways. Embryonic chick ciliary ganglion neurons plated on polyornithine normally undergo rapid cell death in culture and could not be rescued by addition of bFGF. Similarly, neither exposure to laminin alone nor low levels of depolarization alone was sufficient to promote neuronal… CONTINUE READING